"To make what I make" - Alex Pereira explains his intense schedule and why he’s fighting for third time this year at UFC 307

Alex Pereira has shed some details on why he has kept so active in the UFC, crediting his willingness to fight to the start of his combat sports career when he was competing in Brazil.

'Poatan' is preparing to defend his light heavyweight title for a third time when he faces Khalil Rountree at UFC 307 this weekend. The pair will headline the card at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, with expectations high that they'll look to settle the score with a striking contest.

Ahead of their upcoming bout this weekend, Pereira recently sat down with Daniel Cormier and answered questions about his career. One thing that 'DC' was particularly curious about was Pereira being very active in the UFC.

The UFC Hall of Famer wanted to know what kept Periera so motivated, to which he responded:

"I'm used to fight frequency. In Brazil back in the day you could fight kickboxing as an amateur and a pro. So actually in one year I fought 11 times, that was to make absolutely nothing. Now to make what I make, I want to stay active."

Catch Pereira's comments here (3:00):

Since making his UFC debut in 2021, Alex Pereira has fought 9 times in the promotion, winning eight contests. Amongst those victories, Pereira has won and lost the middleweight title, captured the 205-pound belt, and defended it on two occasions as well as headlined the historic UFC 300 card.

He has also earned 5 performance bonuses for his efforts, cementing himself as one of the biggest stars in the promotion today.

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Khalil Rountree Jr. explains why he won't go for a takedown during his bout against Alex Pereira

Khalil Rountree Jr. recently shared some details about his game plan for the upcoming bout against Alex Pereira at UFC 307, revealing that he's planning on getting the job done on the feet.

Since the announcement of the fight, 'The War Horse' has regularly stated that he doesn't plan on grappling or wrestling with Pereira when they face off in the octagon. While some fans have questioned whether that is a ploy to lure the Brazilian into a trap, the 34-year-old has doubled down on his stance.

Speaking at the UFC 307 pre-fight presser, Rountree once again reiterated his desire to engage in a striking battle with Alex Pereira. He said:

"The main thing I was trying to say is that I've worked myself hard enough to get to this point. It would not make sense to switch who I am as a fighter, to completely switch the game plan to secure the win."

Catch Rountree's comments here (2:30):